UNE senior Morgan Bassett finds her calling as a behavioral education teacher

In the midst of a challenging situation, University of New England senior Morgan Bassett isn’t one to stand back and watch — she’d rather dive in and help. 

So, when the opportunity to work as a resource room teacher in Rhode Island opened, she was all in.  

Bassett (Education and Special Education,’ 25) found that she enjoyed supporting students with behavioral issues and students with learning disabilities. And, she said, it led her to pursue becoming a teacher.

“Working with kids changed my whole perspective on what I wanted to do,” Bassett said, who is from Chepachet, Rhode Island, and initially came to UNE with the plan to pursue marine biology. 

“I really like being able to give students individual instruction,” she said. “Building relationships is my favorite part about teaching. I can really get to know the students, which is a little different than when you have 20 or more kids that need your attention all day long.”

Bassett said her path to teaching was anything but straightforward. 

She arrived at UNE intent on studying marine biology, drawn by the University’s oceanfront campus and the proximity to both the sea and the mountains — a perfect blend for someone who describes herself as a “homebody from New England” but wanted to push herself beyond her comfort zone. 

After exploring marine biology, she realized her heart wasn’t in it. Taking a year off, she found herself substitute teaching and working in a behavioral residential facility for boys. That experience, she said, “changed my whole perspective on what I wanted to do. I fell in love with working with kids and realized this is where I belong.”

Returning to UNE, Bassett found a new drive to complete her undergraduate degree. She credits faculty like Lane Clarke, Ed.D., professor and director of the UNE School of Education in the College of Arts and Sciences, for challenging her to try new things and supporting her every step of the way. 

“She really took the time to ask, ‘What do you want out of education?’ and encouraged me to try everything,” Bassett said. “(The school’s) flexibility and the connections in the community opened so many doors for me.

“They are just an incredible group of people,” she said. 

The program’s hands-on approach meant Bassett was in local classrooms from her first semester back, gaining experience and confidence as a professional from day one.

“Her work ethic is unmatched,” said Clarke. “If there’s a challenge, Morgan is the first to volunteer and the last to give up … She doesn’t just meet expectations — she consistently exceeds them in every project she takes on.”

Bassett’s commitment to her students led her to pursue both general and special education majors — a demanding path that required two separate student teaching placements. She credits this dual experience with strengthening her teaching skills. 

“The skills you use in special education benefit any student,” she said. “Spending time in both settings really set me up well to transition into my own classroom.”

Her special affinity for students with behavioral and emotional needs became clear during a long-term substitute position in Portland. 

“I love working with behavioral students — it’s my jam,” Bassett said. “They’re often misunderstood, but once you build those relationships and see them using the strategies you’ve taught, it’s so rewarding.”

This fall, Bassett will bring her passion and expertise to Old Orchard Beach Middle School, where she’ll teach behavioral and emotional supports for grades 3-8. It’s a new age group for her, but she’s eager for the challenge, she said. 

“Middle schoolers bring a whole other level of complexity. I’m excited to set up my first classroom and have that real experience I’ve been waiting for,” Bassett said.

She said her vision for her career goes beyond finding the right classroom placement. Inspired by a UNE course that brought in educators from The Ecology School in Saco, she hopes to one day develop marine science education programs specifically for special education students — an opportunity she says is rarely available to this population. 

“I want to make environmental education accessible to all students, especially those with physical or intellectual disabilities,” she said. “That class was a turning point for me.”

Outside the classroom, Bassett has been a campus leader, a supervisor for intramural sports, an undergraduate student ambassador, and a women’s club soccer team co-founder. 

Clarke noted that Bassett is a natural leader and mentor in formal and informal areas.

“Morgan’s intellectual curiosity is contagious. She inspires classmates and faculty alike to dig deeper and ask better questions,” Clarke said, noting that Bassett led multiple Interprofessional Honor’s Distinction projects during her time at UNE.

On multiple occasions, Bassett worked with other programs, like social work, to bring new understanding to education, Clarke explained. 

“Her commitment is genuine. She doesn’t just participate — she leads and motivates others to join her,” Clarke said. 

Bassett said that when she walks across the stage at her college graduation ceremony on Friday, May 16, she will be ready for what’s next. 

“Now I’m here. It feels incredible,” Bassett said of the transition from graduation to teaching in her own classroom. “I want to make a difference for students who need it most, and I know I have the tools and support to do that.”